Jorgensen, Hecht and Owen Win US Cross National Junior Titles

In the junior 10-12 men’s race, Matteo Jorgenson (Boise Young Riders Dev Squad) earned a Stars-and-Stripes after out-riding the rest of the field. “I was second wheel going into the puddlely, muddy section,” recalled Jorgenson. “I decided to make an attack on the grass. On the pavement I just drilled it and tried to get the biggest gap I could.”

Gage Hecht (International Christian Cycling Club) edged out runner-up Karch Miller (Davis Bike Club) to win the junior 13-14 race. “It was a very tough race, so slick, and the competition was amazingly hard,” said Hecht.

Gage Hecht (International Christian Cycling) wins Junior Male 13-14

Hecht was off the front with Miller closing in on him when he crashed on the final lap. “It was very slick and muddy. I crashed and then I didn’t think I was going to catch him because he was just going so fast but I finally caught him on the bottom of the staircase.”

After his win, a humble Hecht said “I didn’t think I was going to do as well as I did.”

Logan Owen claimed his sixth straight national title after winning the junior 15-16 event. “Got a good start – clean – and after that just rode away,” said Owen after the final race of the morning session.

“I didn’t get the holeshot, I was going to try to get the holeshot, I let the other kids pull my weight until we got to the pavement on the back section, then I took off after that and pulled away instantly.” Owen said.

Owen was one of the few riders to be able to ride up the crumbling runup section. He had scoped it out before hand. “I knew that was going to be a game changer and obviously it was because I opened up twenty seconds on the first lap on that.”

Once he was off the front, there was no looking back. “I knew I had it, I feel like I am one of the strongest out there, I was very confident in my ability to win,”